Suction sweeper nozzle for suction cleaners



Nov. 10, 1936. w, LEATHERS 2,060,510

SUCTION SWEEPER NOZZLE FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Filed Feb. 28, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

0 Nov. 10, 19536;

w. LEATHERS SUCTION SWEEPER NOZZLE FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Filed Feb. 28, 1954 Z-Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEY,

Patented Nov. 10, 1936 SUCTION CLEANERS Ward Leathers, Haworth, N. 1., designer to Quadrex Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application February 28, 1934, Serial No. 713,346 I 14 Claims.

One of the objects of my invention is to produce a sweeper nozzle for use with suction cleaners wherein a rotating brush may be used for sweeping without drivingthe same from* the h motor shaft.

A further object of my invention is to combine a rotating brush, driven by friction from a floor wheel, with a suction nozzle, so disposed that the entire mechanism may be carried lightly on the end of a suction tube or be directly applied to the suction inlet of a vacuum cleaner-more specifically, one in which the motor-suction-unit is rigidly joined to the operating handle.

A further object of my invention is toobtain a sweeper-suction action while the nozzle is traveling forward, and a high vacuum cleaning\ action while the nozzle is traveling backward on the floor, or vice-versa. Sweeper suction cleaning demands a considerable opening for inflow go of the air and ample speed and volume of air flow. High-suction-cleaning demands snuggling the nozzle into the fabric pile, having little clearence from the carpet, small air flow and a larger sub-atmosphere pressure-differential. My

invention provides both types of cleaning in the same nozzle.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby free open sweeping with a rotary brush may be obtained on'one stroke (preferably the forward stroke) and high suction cleaning obtained on the other stroke.

A further object of my invention is to automatically equalize the friction of the brush with the carpet on one stroke and release said friction as well as drop the suction nozzle into the pile for high suction cleaning on the other stroke.

Further objects of my invention will appear from the following description and include operating an agitator or dirt loosener into operative and inoperative positions from a bodily movement of the floor'wheels relatively to the nozzle, preferably so that the agitator is moved into operating position dining the rearward stroke of the cleaner. Another object is to operate the rotary brush from the floor wheels during one stroke of the cleaner, preferably the forward stroke and at the same time press the brush downwardly into better brushing contact with 50 the carpet.

'up' and down movement to the agitator and rotary brush from the movement of the floor wheels relatively to the nozzle on the different strokes of the cleaner.

Another object is to give alternate Accompanying this specification are several somewhat diagrammatic drawings orilgures for the purpose of making clear the principles involved in my invention rather than the constructions. The broad principles hereinafter set forth may have any of many structural forms or com 5 binations thereof, hence the variety of drawings herewith setting forth selective or inter-changeable means of obtaining the objective of this invention.

In the drawings herewith-- Figure 1 shows a side view of a sweeper suction nozzle incorporating some of the features of my invention.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic, partial, longitudinal section of the nozzle shown in Fig. 1.

Figure v3 is a front elevation of part of the nozzle shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is similar to Fig. 2 except for a modification in mounting the driver wheels and the rotary brush, and the inclusion of a high-suction m agitator.

Figure 5 is similar to Fig. 2 except for equalizing mounting of the rotary brush.

Figure 6 is a detail showing another mounting for a high-suction agitator.

Figure 7 is a detail, showing the mounting the rotating brush of Fig. 5.

Figure 8 is adetail showing means of actuat-- ing a high suction agitator from the rotary brush.

Figure 9 is a diagram showing a modification 3 which does not raise or lower the nozzle.

Figure 10 is a detail view of a further modiiication whereby the rotary brush and the agi-, tator are operated from the swinging-arm or link-supported floor wheels.

Various forms of the invention are shown. In the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the drive wheels I are carried on arms 2 which are pivoted at their upperends to the nozzle casting 3. When the nozzle is drawn backward along with 40 the cleaner these drive wheels I move to the position shown in the dotted lines and permit the suction nozzle 3 to travel closer to the floor carpet for high-suction cleaning; and said drive wheels in said dotted line position disengage from the pulley 4 on the axle of the rotary brush 8. said axle being supported in the upwardly elongated bearing slots ll, Fig. 2, whereby the brush then recesses upwardly relatively to the nozzle. On the forward stroke of the cleaner, the wheels I swing rearwardly due to the pivoted arms 2 and thereby raise the nozzle somewhat off the floor on said forward stroke and at the same time engage and rotate the brush pulleys 4 and the brush I. ll

the

InFig. 3itwillbenotedthatthearm2 isprovided with a stud 32 rotatably supported on the nozzle and is further provided with a spring 33. tending to move the drive wheels towards the brush for the purpose of overcoming the weight of the nozzle and the superposed cleaner parts on the backward stroke.

Fig. 4 shows another formof the device wherein the drive wheels I are made to contact with the brush drivingpulleys on the brush axle on the forward stroke of the cleaner and thereafter to become disengaged therefrom and lower the nozzle on the rearward stroke of the cleaner by having the ends of the drive wheel axle I8, Fig. 4, located in upwardly and forwardly inclined slots 5 in the endsof thenozzle casting.

The construction in Fig. 5 differs from Fig. 2 in providing arms I2 pivoted at 21 to the ends of the nozzle. The bearings for the brush axle are supported by thefree ends of these arms (compare Fig. 7). Fixed pins I3 located in slots in said arms permit them to pivot upwardly and downwardly through a limited arc to accomplish the. same result as that described in connection' with.the form of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive.

It'is desirable during the high-suction stroke, that some agitation of the carpet or the dirt should occur. Also it is preferable'that such agitation should not occur on the forward or high speed air, open, cleaning stroke. The brush 8 during the high speed air forward stroke should have means for throwing the dirt under the edge of the nozzle. This requires a raised nozzle and big air flow beneath its edge. Means of providing agitation on the backward stroke may comprise the modified edge I4 of the nozzle itself or it may comprise a special agitator device automatically raised and lowered by the operation of the cleaner. Thus at I! in the various figures is shown a suitable agitator brush which is raised on the forward stroke of the cleaner and lowered from the rearward stroke by suitable means operated either from the drive wheel axle I8 as in Figs. 4 and 6 respectively or from the rotary brush axle 20 as in'Flg. 8.

Thus in Fig. 4, the agitator brush I1 preferably extending the full width of the nozzle is supported on the horizontal arms of what are in efl'ect bell cranks 2|. These have their elbows pivoted at 22 to the end walls of the nozzle; and the axle I8 of the drive wheels passes through the slotted upwardly extending arms of the bell cranks. The result is that when the cleaner is pulled backward the driving wheel axle I8 rocks the bell cranks forwardly and brings the agitator brush IT into floor contact. Vice versa, it is raised out of action by the forward movement of the cleaner.

In Fig. 6 the agitator I1 is located ahead of the front .wall of the nozzle supported on arms 24 pivoted at 25 to the ends of the nozzle. The drive wheel shaft. I8 is located in the forked rear end of said arms 24. This construction, Fig. 6, may be substituted for the bell crank construction in Fig. 4 to operate the agitator I1 as described.

Fig. 8 indicates another means for operatively mounting the agitator I1 usable for example with the constructon shown in Fig. 5. Thus, the levers 'I2 in Fig. 8 are centrally pivoted at. 21 to the lowered by the relative vertical'movement between the rotarybrush 8 on the axle 20 and the nozzle to produce the same mode of operation heretofore described in connection with Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 9, I have also found a construction to be practical which uses many of the aforementioned principles but without raising or lowering the nozzle -by the drive wheels I and which will yet accomplish substantially the same purposes. Thus in Fig. .'9, the drive wheels I located as before at the ends of the nozzle 3 are mounted on their axle' I8. which now projects through substantially horizontal slots 40 in the ends of the nozzle whereby the axle of said wheels can roll or otherwise move into forward and rearward positions as the nozzle moves backward and forward onthe floor in the operation of the cleaner. This movement need not raise or lower the nozzle 3. When the axle I8 is in the position shown in Fig. 9, the wheels I furnish friction drive.

of the front wall of the nozzle. This member 43 also preferably has a suitably formed bottom edge for sliding over the floor or carpet. There is a small clearance between the said member 43 and the inside of the front wall of the nozzle 3. An inwardly projecting lip on the rubber bumper 35 Fig. 9, suitably closes such clearance to air admission. The said afms 4| are tilted about their pivots 42 by the fore and aft movement of the axle I8 of the drive wheels in such manner that on the forward stroke of the cleaner the rotary brush 8 is caused to bear down on the floor or carpet and is rotated while the part 43 is elevated. On the rearward stroke the reverse is the case. The brush ceases to be driven and is lifted; and the part 43 is lowered into contact with the carpet and acts as an agitator. This movement is alternate with the forward and rearward movement of the cleaner.

Referring to Fig. 10, it may be noted, that instead of the drive wheels I, Fig. 9, being rigidly mounted on the axle I8 and said axle tilting the arms 4|. another construction may be used wherein the drive wheels I mounted on the arms 2 as in Figs. 1 to 3 may be used for tilting the arms H in Fig. 9, by projecting the wheel supports 29, Fig. 3, inwardly through substantially horizontal slots in the nozzle 3 of Fig. 10. In Fig. 10 the pin 45 on the arm 2 working in the slot 45 as shown in the arm 4I serves the same operative purpose as the shaft I8 working in the slot of the same arm in Fig. 9.

I have found it desirable in some cases to put a flexible joint between the nozzle herein described and the suction cleaner in accordance with Fig. 4. Numerous means of attachment to the suction cleaner may be provided. In Fig. 4 the conical lies fiat along the wall surface so as not to impede the flow of air or catch threads or litter. ,The spring 46 may be used in the form of any desired number of springs disposed as desired, but preferably there should be a pair of the springs 46 located at the top and bottom, or a pair at the sides, A flexible link 41 preferably of rubber serves to closethe opening between the parts 3 and 45.

- What I claim is:

1. In combination with a suction cleaner of the continuous suction type, a floor nozzle, wheels supporting said nozzle on the floor, connecting means between said wheels and nozzle operated by one stroke of the cleaner to raise the nozzle relatively to the floor and to lower it during the opposite stroke, and a rotary brush supported at the mouth of the nozzle with which said floor wheels come into driving engagement during the stroke of the cleaner when the nozzle is raised.

2. In, combination with a suction cleaner of the continuous suction type, a floor nozzle, wheels supporting said nozzle on the floor, connecting means between said wheels and nozzle operated by one stroke of the cleaner to raise the nozzle relatively to the floor and to lower it during the opposite stroke, and a rotary brush supported at the mouth of the nozzle with which said floor wheels come into driving engagement during the cleaner stroke when the nozzle is raised, and means for supporting said brush for limited up and down bodily-movement permitting it to recede upwardly relatively to the nozzle on the nonbrush-d'riving stroke of the cleaner.

3. In combination with a suction cleaner of the continuous suction type, a floor nozzle, wheels supporting said nozzle on the floor, connecting means between said wheels and nozzle operated by one stroke of the cleaner to raise the nozzle relatively to the floor and to lower it during the opposite stroke, and a rotary brush supported at the mouth of the nozzlewith which said floor wheels come into driving engagement during the cleaner stroke when the nozzle is raised, and an agitator device operatively related to the aforesaid connecting means to be raised and lowered with respect to the floor by said means during the raising and lowering respectively of the nozzle.

4. In combination with a suction cleaner of the continuous suction type,- a floor nozzle, downwardly and forwardly inclined arms pivoted by their upper ends to the ends of the nozzle over its mouth, floor wheels supported on the lower ends of said arms, and a rotary brush supported in back of the floor wheels and with which they come into driving engagement on the forward stroke of the cleaner.

5. In combination with a suction cleaner of the continuous suction type, a floor nozzle, the ends of which contain forwardly and upwardly inclined slots, floor wheels at the ends of said nozzle supported on an axle extending through said slots, and a rotary brush supported in back of the floor wheels and with which they come into driving engagement during the forward stroke of the cleaner.

continuous suction type, -a floor nozzle, downwardly and forwardly inclinedarms pivoted by their upper ends to the ends of the nozzle over its mouth, floor wheels supported on the lower relatively to the floor and to lower it during the opposite stroke, and a rotaryvbrush supported at the mouth of the nozzle with which said floor wheels -.come into driving engagement during the cleaner stroke when the nozzle is raised, and means for supporting said brush for limited up and down bodily movement, said brush being supported in elongated upwardly and forwardly ining the weight of the nozzle and the superposed cleaner parts on the backward stroke.

9. In combination with a suction cleaner of the continuous suction type, a floor nozzle, the ends of which contain forwardly and upwardly inclined slots, floor wheels at the ends of said nozzle supported on an axle extending through said slots for raising the nozzle on the forward stroke and. lowering it on the back stroke, ,and a rotary brush supported in back of the floor wheels and with which they come into driving engagement during the forward stroke of the cleaner, and an agitator device supported at the mouth of the nozzle on pivoted arms operatively related to the axle of the floor wheels whereby the agitator device is raised and lowered with the raising and lowering respectively of the nozzle.

10. In combination with a suction cleaner of the continuous'suction type, a floor nozzle, wheels supporting said nozzle on the floor, a rotary brush, means for supporting said brush at the mouth of the nomle for limited up and down bodily movement relatively thereto, connecting means between the fioor wheels and nozzle permittingsaid parts to have relative for and aft bodily movement on the forward and backward strokes or loosener, means for supporting said agitator 6. In combination with a suction cleaner of the at the mouth of the nozzle for limited up and down bodily movement relatively thereto, connecting means between the floor wheels and nozzle permitting them to have relative bodily movement on the forward and backward strokes of the cleaner and on -one of said strokes to depress the agitator and on the opposite stroke to raise it.

13. The combination set forth in claim 12 further characterized by the arrangement being such that the floor wheels depress the agitator o'n-the rearward stroke of the cleaner and raise it on the forward stroke.

14. In combination: with a suction cleaner of the continuous suction type, a floor nozzle, wheels supporting said "nozzle on the floor, horizontally disposed centrallypivoted arms carried by the nozzle, an agitator supported on the front ends of said arms, and a rotary brush on their rear tive body movement on the forward and backward strokes of the cleaner, said wheels on the forward stroke coming into 'drivingengagement with the rotary brush, said connecting means'being also operatively related to the aforesaid pivoted arms whereby the rotary -lorush is depressed on the forward stroke or the cleaner and the agitator is depressed on the rear stroke.

WARD LEA'I'HERS. 

